We Aim to Position Motion Branding Sdn Bhd as a Leading ASEAN Branding Authority and a Homegrown Malaysian Brand with Global Impact: Weilling Tan, Founder

Motion Branding Sdn Bhd is a strategic branding consultancy founded on the belief that great branding goes beyond aesthetics and fundamentally drives business growth. The company was established by two seasoned creatives, Weilling Tan and Wendy Tan, who have, from the outset, aligned creativity with clients’ business objectives, helping Malaysian small businesses and corporates grow into brands that truly stand out and make an impact in the market.

Motion Branding was founded in 2007 and is based in George Town, Penang.

SME BUSINESS REVIEW contacted Weilling Tan, founder and Lead Branding Consultant of Motion Branding Sdn Bhd, for an interview to discuss how the company evolved from a design agency into a strategic branding consultancy, its business-first philosophy, and how it helps domestic brands thrive both at home and abroad. Here’s what Mr. Tan had to say.

Interview Excerpts

Could you elaborate on how Motion Branding was founded and discuss the initial vision behind its establishment?

Wendy Tan and I founded Motion Branding with a vision to help Malaysian SMEs and corporates transform into strong, sustainable brands. While some creative agencies at the time focused solely on design deliverables, Motion Branding was built on a business-first branding philosophy, blending creativity, strategy, and commercial insight to create brands that deliver measurable results. Our vision remains the same today to bring world-class branding within reach of local businesses, giving them the confidence to grow and compete beyond borders.

What inspired you to shift your focus from traditional design to solving branding and marketing challenges?

Early in my career, I realized that beautiful designs alone were not enough. Clients needed branding solutions that solved real business challenges, influenced customer perception, and generated sales. This insight transformed Motion Branding’s focus from being a ‘design service’ to becoming a strategic branding consultancy that aligns creativity with business growth objectives.

What role does Wendy Tan play in shaping the direction and creative output of Motion Branding alongside you?

Wendy Tan, co-founder and Creative Director, plays a pivotal role in shaping Motion Branding’s creative vision. With a strong background in design and brand aesthetics, she ensures that every project reflects both visual excellence and brand strategy. Together, Wendy and form a balanced leadership, blending strategic insight with creative mastery to deliver cohesive, market-ready branding solutions.

How does Motion Branding balance artistic expression with commercial effectiveness in its branding solutions?

We believe good branding is both art and business. Every creative decision, from logo design to brand storytelling, is guided by the brand’s market positioning, customer psychology, and business goals. We balance creative freedom with measurable objectives, ensuring that each branding solution is not only visually striking but also commercially effective in boosting awareness, engagement, and sales.

How has Motion Branding managed to build and retain a diverse client base?

Since 2007, we have served nearly 1,800 clients, ranging from SMEs to government-linked entities and publicly listed corporations. Our retention strategy is rooted in integrity, consistency, and results. We treat every client as a long-term partner, continuously adapting strategies to keep their brand relevant. Our ability to work across diverse industries comes from deeply understanding each client’s market and tailoring branding strategies accordingly.

What attributes set Motion Branding apart from other branding firms in the region?

At Motion Branding, we don’t just create brands, we build them with purpose and a method that works. By combining creativity with solid business sense, we have earned the trust of a wide range of clients and grown into a trusted name in the industry. Here’s what makes us different:

Business-First Branding: We don’t view branding as just an artistic exercise. Instead, we integrate creativity with business strategies to ensure every brand decision supports our clients’ growth goals and market objectives. This approach helps create brands that are not only memorable but also commercially impactful.

3R Framework: Our Rebranding, Recovery, and Reinforcement model provides a clear path to assess and strengthen brands at every stage. Whether a brand requires a fresh identity, a turnaround from challenges, or ongoing support to stay relevant, this framework guides our strategic approach to diagnose issues and deliver targeted solutions that improve clients’ brand performance.

Senior-Led Execution: Our projects are led by experienced branding consultants who bring deep strategic insight, ensuring every decision aligns with clients’ business goals.

Full-Spectrum Expertise: We cover all aspects of branding, from creating brand identities and corporate profiles to managing digital presence and executing market activation strategies.

Trusted by Leaders: We have been appointed branding consultants by major publicly listed companies, government-linked corporations (GLCs), and prominent ASEAN corporate bodies.

Will Motion Branding be launching any branding solutions that we should be aware of?

In 2026, Motion Branding will launch AI-Enhanced Brand Strategy Services, integrating advanced analytics to help clients understand customer behavior, predict market trends, and optimize brand positioning. We are also expanding our Brand Profile Masterclass to train SMEs on building impactful brand documentation to win contracts, investors, and market trust.

Could you provide an example of a recent success story where Motion Branding’s solutions significantly impacted a client’s business or brand?

A Malaysian furniture manufacturer engaged us to strengthen its market presence and enter the highly competitive U.S. and European markets. Using our 3R Branding Framework, we conducted a full brand audit, identified its core strengths, and developed a positioning strategy that set it apart from both local and international competitors.

We refreshed the manufacturer’s brand identity, standardized corporate and marketing materials, and built a compelling brand story tailored for overseas buyers. We also enhanced its digital presence with targeted messaging and visuals that resonated with Western market expectations.

Within eight months, the manufacturer secured multiple contracts in both the U.S. and Europe, significantly increased its conversion rate from international inquiries, and established itself as a trusted, high-quality Malaysian furniture brand on the global stage.

What is your vision for the future of Motion Branding, and how do you see the company positioning itself in the global branding industry?

We aim to position Motion Branding Sdn Bhd as a leading ASEAN branding authority and a homegrown Malaysian brand with global impact. Our focus moving forward is to expand into emerging markets while pioneering branding models that integrate creativity, technology, and tangible returns on investment. We envision Motion Branding Sdn Bhd as the go-to partner for businesses that view branding as an investment, not an expense.

Do you have any final thoughts or comments before we conclude?

Branding is not just about looking good, it’s about being remembered, being trusted, and being chosen. At Motion Branding Sdn Bhd, our mission is to ensure every brand we touch grows stronger, more profitable, and more respected in the market.

ABOUT | WEILLING TAN

Weilling Tan is the founder and Lead Branding Consultant of Motion Branding Sdn Bhd. Established since 2007, he has built a reputation as one of Malaysia’s leading branding experts, blending creativity, business strategy, and market analytics to deliver impactful brand transformations.

Holding a First-Class Honours Master of Business (Business Analytics Specialization), Weilling brings data-driven precision to the creative process. Over the course of his career, he has personally completed over 500 corporate brand profiles and served more than 1,800 clients, ranging from SMEs to government-linked companies and main-board publicly listed corporations.

He is the author of Onion Marketeology, a branding and marketing methodology book, and the creator of the 3R Branding Framework – Rebranding, Recovery, and Reinforcement – a proven model that helps businesses strengthen brand presence, enhance profitability, and expand market share.

Weilling’s influence extends beyond consultancy. He is an HRDC-certified trainer in Branding & Marketing, a Guest Lecturer at Universiti Sains Malaysia (Computer Science Faculty), and a Brand Educator specialising in Digital Marketing & Branding for SMEs. His industry leadership is recognised through his role as a National Branding Council Member for Business Network International (BNI) Malaysia and as an appointed branding consultant for multiple public-listed companies.

In recognition of his contribution to the branding industry, Weilling was featured in Asia Business Outlook 2025 as Asia’s Top 10 Most Promising Branding Consultant in Malaysia and honoured with the Asia Honesty Enterprise Award 2025 for his commitment to ethical and results-driven branding practices.

Guided by the belief that ‘Good Branding is Good Business,’ Weilling continues to shape the branding landscape in Malaysia and ASEAN, empowering businesses to become trusted, competitive, and globally recognised brands.

At Motion Branding, our mission is to ensure every brand we touch grows stronger, more profitable, and more respected in the market.